A host of British rugby starts will fly to Tonga to take part in a specially arranged match, to mark the coronation of the countries new King. Welsh veterans Colin Charvis and Mark Taylor are joined by England Sevens Ben Gollings as well as Scotland’s Brendan Laney, Craig Joiner and Stuart Grimes. A Tonga XV [...]
Italy will bid for World Cup
The Italian Rugby Federation have revealed that they will submit an application to host the World Cup, either for the 2015 or 2019 tournament. The location of both events is set to be decided on next year with the winning applications announced in July. Giancarlo Dondi, the FIR president commented, “Successively we will be able [...]
Henson signs on until 2011
Gavin Henson has signed a new contract with Ospreys that will keep him at the club until 2011. The Welsh centre is currently out of action with an ankle injury but that hasn’t stopped the club offering him fresh terms after an impressive few years with the club. He commented, “I wouldn’t want to play [...]
Aussie trio return for Springboks clash
Nathan Sharpe, Lote Tuqiri and Wycliff Palu will all return to the Australia side for the Tri-Nations clash with world champions South Africa. Aussie coach Robbie Deans believes that the three players can have a massive impact now that they’re fully recovered from their injuries. He commented, “We needed to be absolutely certain that they [...]
Hanley calls it a day
Former England winger Steve Hanley has decided to retire from the professional game after failing to recover from a back injury sustained last December. The Sale Sharks man, aged 29 said he was sad to be ending his ten year association with the club but felt it was the right decision for everyone involved. He [...]
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Dupuy becomes a Tiger
Julien Dupuy has signed for Leicester Tigers from French side Biarritz and becomes Heyneke Meyer’s second new arrival of the summer. The 24-year-old scrum half will have a fight on his hands to secure a starting role with Harry Ellis and Ben Youngs already on the books. However, Dupuy is relishing the challenge. “I am [...]
Marshall opts for Montpellier
Justin Marshall has shocked Ospreys supporters by opting to leave the club and sign a one year deal with Montpellier. The New Zealand man was expected to face fierce competition for a starting role at Ospreys, battling it out with Mike Phillips for the scrum-half position. However, the 34 year old has decided for a [...]
Paterson causes a storm with comments
Edinburgh’s Chris Paterson has caused a storm in the Rugby Union world by claiming that the entertainment value is better in the Magners League than in the Guinness Premiership. The former Gloucester man claims that the English league is much slower and that games become more about physical strength than ability on the ball. He [...]
Niva Ta’auso flies in for Connacht
Connacht have pulled off a major signing by persuading Niva Ta’auso to join the club after he finishes the season with New Zealand side, Counties Manukau. The Samoan Centre is seen as a major coup for Connacht and manager Tim Allnutt is aware of the 28 year olds qualities. He commented, Niva is a very [...]
Smaller countries priced out of World Cup
The smaller rugby nations are being priced out of hosting the World Cup, according to Australia’s rugby chief John O’Neill. He believes that many countries will struggle to come up with the £100 million plus required to stage the competition, which is sad for the game of rugby. O’Neill believes that the costs could lead [...]
Smith finally joins England set up
Brian Smith has finally put pen to paper on a deal to become the new England attack coach, after weeks of speculation. The London Irish director of rugby become Martin Johnson’s first appointment as head coach and says he is delighted to be in board. Smith commented, “The opportunity to coach at international level comes [...]
South Africa star banned for 3 weeks
Bismark du Plessis has been handed a three game ban after being found guilty of careless contact with the eyes of New Zealand’s Adam Thomson. Plessis, 24, will now miss the world champion’s clash with Australia with Adriaan Strauss called up to replace him. It was originally believed by New Zealand that du Plessis deliberately [...]
Tigers swoop for Hougaard
South Africa fly-half Derick Hougaard has moved to Leicester, once again linking up with coach Heyneke Meyer after the two worked together at Blue Bells. The Springboks arrival means Toby Flood will now have some serious competition for the number 10 shirt in the Tigers side. Hougaard commented, “I think this is a great chance [...]
Baptism of fire for Johnson
Martin Johnson faces possibly the three most difficult matches that any England head coach has had to start with, as he prepares to go head to head with the Pacific Islands, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand in his first four games in charge. However, Johnson is fully aware of the challenge that lays ahead [...]
Johnson ready to be judged
Martin Johnson says he knows how he will be judged as England head coach and that’s by how well the team performs out on the field. However, Johnson said he was disappointed by the England team’s conduct in New Zealand and such behaviour was unacceptable for the national side. He commented, “The allegations made against [...]
Ospreys hot-seat too hot for many
The job as Ospreys head coach is not an enticing role according to Jonathan Davies, the former Wales captain. The club have had trouble finding a replacement for Lyn Jones and will head into the new season with assistant coaches Sean Holley and Jonathan Humphreys leading the side. But Davies believes the set-up at Ospreys [...]
Barkley out for eight weeks
Olly Barkley is looking at eight weeks on the sidelines after it was revealed he will need an operation to repair his fractured left wrist. The Gloucester centre picked up the injury on England’s ill-fated tour of New Zealand and is now struggling to be fit for the start of the new season. Gloucester head [...]
Meyer humbled by Tigers appointment
New Leicester Tigers head coach Heyneke Meyer say he is ‘humbled’ to be at the club and considers them to be one of the biggest in the world. The 40 year-old South African put pen to paper on a three year contract yesterday after agreeing to replace Marcelo Loffreda who was sacked back in June. [...]
Henson out until September
Gavin Henson is likely to miss the start of the season after Ospreys revealed that the centre is likely to be out of action until the end of September. The Welsh international underwent surgery on his ankle in April after suffering an injury against Saracens in the Heineken Cup. Originally, Henson had been optimistic about [...]
Johnson wields England axe
Martin Johnson has named his first England elite squad and left out some high profile names as he tries to create a team in his own image. Mike Tindall, Ben Kay and Joe Worsley are the most notable absentees but Dave Strettle and Nick Easter have also missed out with all five being relegated to [...]